Literary Mileage
Remembering Winter…

Dateline: July 6, Washington, DC

It’s supposed to be 100 degrees + today. I have the shades drawn, as suggested by the weather man. And even though my air conditioner thermostat is set for 78 degrees, it is huffing and puffing. I love summer time, but this is a tad over-the-top. There are even dire suggestions of a brownout along the east coast, as everybody seeks electric cooling. My favorite coffeehouse in the neighborhood, Peregrine, lost its power yesterday afternoon! I just checked their website which says, “No power this morning means no coffee. Sorry, friends, but the intersection of 7th and Penn is pretty much closed until further notice.”

For perspective, I decided to reprise part of a blog post from last December:

“On Saturday, December 19, we were hammered by the collision of a frigid nor’easter off the coast and serious rain skulking in from the south. Dire warnings paid off with bull’s eye accuracy—anywhere from 15-20 inches, depending on your exact location. From mine here on Capitol Hill, I’d say 15 inches. Nature put on an extraordinary show.”

In a snowstorm, everything has to come to a standstill. We’re warned to stay home. We can officially and without guilt NOT go to work. We should have the same permission to hunker down when the temperature and humidity reach a certain point. All office buildings should be off limits. They could adjust their thermostats and save energy. Cars could remain parked and not contribute to an overheated environment.

Instead, we slog to our destinations with water bottles in tow, maybe a towel around our neck, feeling the cooked concrete radiate up through out feet. People get cranky when it’s too hot—another reason we should get a “slow” day when the temps are this high.

What do you think about that?